As Adriana Grant reported on SW‘s Voracious blog a while back, West Seattle’s Blackbird Bistro is closing and the space is being taken over by the Tex-Mex lounge next door, Mission. While I’ve heard a couple of highly successful local bar owners repeat the phrase “West Seattle scares me” when asked why they refuse to expand their nightlife empires there, it’s obvious that West Seattleites take pride in any new joint that embodies the neighborhood’s spirit (case in point: West 5). That said, much about Mission flies in the face of the neighborhood’s working-class-nothin’-fancy pride. Chief among them: The place is decked out, with deep, dark booths, wrought-iron railings, and a flagstone wall. Secondly, some of the clientele can look like…well…Belltowners (though from eavesdropping, I’ve discovered they’re just West Seattleites who haven’t changed out of their work outfits). But all this is trumped by Mission’s no-bullshit demeanor, which is especially prevalent among the waitstaff (my servers have all come across like El Chupacabra employees, albeit with better manners). The drinks are strong, and the house margarita, at $6, is an across-the-board pleaser. Every time I visit, something about the dim lighting and cavernlike entry make me feel like I’m stepping into a refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city. Come to think of it, West Seattle holds a similar charm overall, so Mission’s expansion is a wise move—there are a lot of us over there. And there’s nothing we like more than staying local.